Back cover

Here is the back cover of the book. Soon I will be able to send my novel to Lulu.com!

A cover for Olwizcomyr

I realised 2 possible covers for my novel using Powerpoint. The drawing represents a key scene of the story, so I though I could post them on this blog. The scene takes place during the night so cover N2 should prevail but it might be a little bit too dark. You can give me your opinion. Remember, it's a novel for children.

DVDs swapping

I have few DVDs I would like to swap. The DVDs are:
Last embrace
Once apon the time in the West
Scary movie
The transporter 2
Man bites dog
Being there
Dr Strangelove
A fistful of dynamite

If you're interested to swap few of them, just write on this blog. Also other people might be interested by your DVDs too.

Rejection letters

Here are three rejection letters for the manuscript I sent and of which I published the first three chapters on this blog. Two letters are from literary agents and one is from a publisher. Sarah Manson and Usborne (the publisher) answered very quickly ( a week) and at least called me by my name. Fraser and Ross took a month to send me a letter where no name, no date (only May 2007) and not even the title of my manuscript were indicated. Well it's not exactly very professional and says probably something on the agency itself. And as I wrote elsewhere, their office was TO LET when I went there to see it in Edinburgh.

Tales of the slush pile

A funny website for all the wannabe writers trying to deal with manuscripts submissions!

How to get a free cappuccino

Here is the way I got a free cappuccino at the New Hall cafeteria at St Andrews University. I started to ask for a free cup every day and faced a refusal every day. Then I tried a hold up but to no avail. I tried to bribe the waitress with fake gold and diamonds still to no avail. As a last resort I wrote the following story and Bingo! It worked. Now I need to get a free scone...
Here is the short story:

Many years ago when the world was young and dangerous and when evil sorcerers were ruling, I was cursed three times until the 40th generation. Only by fulfilling three awfully perilous tasks were I to be relieved from these three sinister spells.
First I had to recover the tonsils of the Great Farting Dragon on the island of Stinky Smell. This I did last month and nearly died of pulmonary infection.
Second I was to go down the Well of The Drown Man to retrieve the fairy tooth of the Dark Ogre so that he can drink his milk again. I fulfilled this dire mission but I was left with painful dental nightmares and a carious wisdom tooth.
The last task was from far the most dangerous and the most difficult to achieve. I was to enter the terrible and dreadful New Hall Cafeteria and receive the Free Cappuccino of Fire from the hands of one of the frightening Coffee Keepers.
Only when this is done will I be able to have a rest and look to the future with serenity.

Literary agents

In UK, it's almost impossible to submit a manuscript to publishers without going through an agent, on the contrary of what is happening in France where publishers have a strong aversion for agents and wish to deal directly with the author. So of course I am looking for an agent for my novel. Two months ago I sent the first three chapters to 2 publishing houses willing to accept unsolicited manuscripts. These were USBORNE and Chicken House. USBORNE answered very quickly (a week) with a standard rejection letter and I still haven't heard anything from Chicken House. In the meantime I sent a synopsis and three chapters to a first agent with again a negative answer after less than a week. The second agent took a month to say no with a letter that was not even stating my name or the title of the manuscript. Strangely since I live near Edinburgh, I went there to check the address of this second agency and found out their office was TO LET! I guess I was not very lucky in my choice...